Toiyabe Dome (with Jerry & Cheryl) - 6/10/20

Toiyabe Dome from "gentle" Approach Ridge

Steep Talus within minutes of Starting Up

Navigation Check

Steep Talus to Steep Talus

Jerry and Cheryl climbed Toiyabe Dome a few days ago. To use hiker speak, it was a "One and Done!" The word, horrible, was actually used to describe this talus-covered hike! When talus wasn't the obstacle, thick forested terrain covered their path. Four thousand elevation feet were gained over the first two miles of the ten mile hike making the climb to the corner sub peak extremely steep in a constant manner. And, within minutes of starting up from the trailhead, talus was underfoot. Toiyabe Dome is definitely a climb one can be proud of conquering. (Albeit, horrible!) 

To get to the trailhead for the 11,361' peak, drive north on SR-95 from Las Vegas to Tonopah, go east on SR-6 then north on SR-376. Drive about 55.5 miles and turn left on Cove Canyon Road. It is just over a mile on this road to the trailhead at the end. Staying to the right of the peak's main drainage, head for the first ridge.

Cheryl made a few notes for some of the photos which I will italicize. Thanks Jerry and Cheryl for sending this report and photos to us. Nature is wild and strong!

Hill on Left was our Target through the Thick Trees

You gain 4000’ in the first two miles. Once you gain that, the trip reports indicate you’re then able to hike on a gentle ridge to the summit. Getting to that ridge required scrambling exposed and non exposed rock, hiking up very steep, loose talus (about 50%+ of the hike was on talus), and bushwhacking.

First Rule of Hiking - The first peak is never the final peak!

We need to get to that hill in the upper left.  Lots of trees - it was pretty thick in there. We had twigs down our shirts a lot. We thought getting up that hill would bring us to the gentle ridge that leads to the summit.

Past the first False Peak

Hiking past a Rock Outcropping

  Wrong!  We are now on that hill and we realize that there is quite a lot left to hike before we can get to that gentle ridge that leads to the summit.  Our next goal is the sub peak in the distance on the far left on the ridge. It’s hard to tell but there’s a ridge between us and that sub peak we’ll need to climb first. We’ll hike up through the forest to the top of that ridge, drop down and hike up the sub peak.

 If you're not balancing across talus, you're making your way through brush or scrambling over rocks all the while hiking relentlessly up one steep slope after another.

Sub Peak (Corner) seen in Distance

Above, Jerry is climbing up the sub peak. Below, our ascent ridge is directly behind me. Then, in the next photo, at the top of the sub peak, there’s Toiyabe Dome in the distance! 

Cheryl finishes Climb to "Gentle" Ridge

It’s the highest point on that far ridge and has large patches of snow on it. The gentle ridge leading us to the summit lies ahead but before we reach it we have one more challenge....

"Easy" Traverse around to "Gentle" Ridge

Not so easy Traverse

We have to side hill across a steep slope of talus. Of course!

Jerry mentions that navigating the initial steep ridge was very difficult. Several times, they had to search around for a route through the brush. The ever present talus ranged in size but most of the time, it was around 1 foot in diameter and unstable. 

Talus - pronounced tal-les (rhymes with malice!)

ta·​lus | \ ˈtā-ləs  , ˈta- \

Definition of talus

1: a slope formed especially by an accumulation of rock debris

2: rock debris at the base of a cliff

Starting out "Gentle" Ridge to Peak

Finally on the "gentle" ridge, Jerry and Cheryl rejoiced on the easier terrain. The talus became more and more scarce. However, the steepness continued until they were on the peak. Views were outstanding!

Working up the "Gentle" Ridge to the Peak

Woooo hooooo! Behind us is Arc Dome. We summited it in August 2017. All trail!  More people summit it than Toiyabe Dome. Only eight people have signed the Toiyabe Dome register between 2016-2019. Jerry and I are the only ones this year. Wonder why?!

Jerry & Cheryl on Toiyabe Dome (Arc Dome in Distance)

Returning along the "Gentle" Ridge

Coming back down, we diverted from our ascent route and followed the North Canyon descent route. It was getting dark and the gulley was quite challenging with lots of loose rock, dead trees and debris. By now, we were tired and were extremely careful not to make a mistake. Besides the views, there was one thing I won't forget - the smell of sage. It was everywhere. So was tree pollen. I don't have allergies but between the sage and the pollen, it will take a few days for my sinuses to recover! ~ Cheryl T.

In a post that Jerry wrote, he mentions that there are a few pourovers in the descent gulley. One of the downclimbs required the aid of a nearby bush!

Stats: 10.3 miles; 5478' gain; 13 hours

Negotiating Talus back to Sub Peak in Distance

Starting down from Sub Peak

Down through the Forest and Brushy Canyon

Big Falls - 6/1/20

Big Falls

 Big Falls is beautiful right now. But, FYI, everyone seems to know about it now. We saw sixteen hikers besides us there today! Use trails are popping up everywhere!

Rita and Kay at Big Falls

Pool at Bottom of Big Falls

Black & White Sisters via The Elks Club Wash - 5/30/20

Black Sister on Sisters (Approach) Ridge

Mike & Rita on White Sister (Black Sister in Background)

North Sister from Sisters Ridge

Starting up The Elks Club Wash

Normally, our club climbs to Black & White Sisters by using the Sisters Spur Road. This road turns to the left after driving up Macks Canyon Road for 2 miles. Our hike would begin there. That route presents the least amount of elevation gain and is a little less than 4 miles. On Saturday, three club members continued an exploratory to find a route up to the rocky sisters directly from Lee Canyon Road. Especially in the time of COVID-19, we won't always be able to pile into high clearance cars to negotiate the sometimes rough Macks Canyon Road. There were only two caveats that we knew. One was that the climb would have 300' more elevation gain. The other was that we would be dealing with brushier terrain inside the rarely used washes.

Merging with Nutans Road

Two days prior, we had checked out a wash that we named The Elks Club Wash. This wash is a direct route up to the final steep climb to the Sisters Ridge whereon Black Sister reigns. It is a nice wash that appears to be used by horses and elk. (Thus, the name!)

Continuation of The Elks Club Wash

Part of the wash is also accentuated by a small mining road called Nutans Road. There is a small spur off the wash that leads up to an area of old mine artifacts about half a mile from the trailhead located on Lee Canyon Road just after its junction with Deer Creek Road.

Mountain Lion Dinner Dishes

Nearing Top of The Elks Club Wash

There is a cow grate in the road here and you park on the left side as you are driving up. The Elks Club Wash is almost directly across the road from the turnout and this is where the hike begins. A little way up the wash, you start to parallel Nutans Road. We visited the mine artifacts and returned to the wash to continue climbing. The wash curves to the left further up and this is where it gets more brushy. Our pace was measured in order to save ourselves for the final climb that we knew was coming. It was a very windy day and when the wash curved, we began really feeling it. The constant roar of the wind above us was deafening to a point! Onward and upward! 

Resting Saddle

Finally, we reached the top of the wash that came out exactly at the Resting Saddle before the steep climb to the top.

Starting Steep Climb up to Sister Ridge

We did rest. Discussed. And, decided to continue up regardless of the wind. Perhaps a little risky but we were strong experienced hikers and we were determined, Black Sister or BUST!

Deadwood Landmark at end of Sister Ridge

Mike makes last Approach to Black Sister

   We took on the steep climb slowly and methodically and made it to the trailing ridge, the Sisters Ridge. From there, we turned to the right, climbed the ridge to Black Sister where Mike and Rita scrambled up. Then we made our visit over to White Sister. There were several times where we had to just stop in our tracks and face into the wind for fear of being pushed over by the 30-40 mph gusts! One time, a small branch fell very close to Mike. Yikes! Our visit atop was short and sweet. We got our photos then started back down to the Resting Saddle area. As we descended, we moved over toward the top of our descent wash, Deadwood Wash. Rita wanted to name the wash Lotta Dead Trees Wash! (Love it!) There were several trees that had come crashing down in the recent past crossing over the wash. However, it is a wide wash and there is plenty of room to go around the mounds of brush that seem to appear every 50' or so. We knew that this wash was used sometimes by other hiking groups and it was just about as "trailed" as The Elks Club Wash. In my humble opinion, The Elks Club Wash was better for the ascent since there were fewer places where hikers had to "go up and around" the brush.

Rita scrambles Up

We descended the wash picking our way down following the occasional vague trails and bulldozing through the deadwood. We "hugged" the hillside on the left as the wash curved around.

Mike on White Sister

There is a wash fork in this area so we were careful to ignore the wash heading to the right. Sometimes, our wash was wide and brushy leaving us to find the wash in the trees ahead.

Starting down Deadwood Wash

Hiking Yoga

       Keeping true to the left curving direction, the wash  became more spread out and brushier but staying the course proved to be a good plan when we saw the green roof of the house on Canyon Eye Road not far below. We stayed in the wash all the way to the dirt road and crossed it right where there is a sign on the tree warning of a dog somewhere in the area! This put us in the pine straw meadow that pleasantly led us directly back to the trailhead. The steep climbs were quite a workout and the wind never got the better of us! So, this is one way to get to Black Sister from Lee Canyon Road!

    

Stats: 3.5 miles; 1900' gain; 3.5 hours

Deadwood Wash

Nearing bottom of Deadwood Wash

Pinestraw Meadow

Horse Peak Loop Exploratory - 5/28/20

Horse Peak (Black Sister in Distance)

Mining Sled at Ada and Edith's Mine

Mummy's Nose, Chin & Forehead (and Lee Peak) from Horse Peak

Starting up the end of Horse Canyon

Necessary tools for an exploratory of terrain that the group has no previous knowledge of:

1) a group of people that love exploring

2) a group of people that are ready for almost anything

3) at least 1 person who has studied the "to be explored" terrain v. Google Earth

4) at least 1 person who has a topography map is highly useful

5) a group of people who just enjoy a day on the mountain with no real agendas

6) GPSs, for sure

On Thursday, five friends began searching for a good, not so steep route to Black Sister without the necessity of driving out Macks Canyon Road. Other purposes were to learn more about Horse Canyon Road (a 4WD road that spurs off of Macks Canyon Road) and to get a feel for the Ada & Edith Mine on Nutans Road (a small mine found not too far up into the mountain above Lee Canyon Road.

Rita with Horse Canyon in the Background

We parked at the junction of Lee Canyon Road and Macks Canyon Road to begin our hike out Macks Canyon Road for almost a half mile. Here, we turned left to begin a gentle climb of Horse Canyon Road.

Approaching the Summit of Horse Peak

Horse Canyon Road is a very nice but narrow high clearance 4WD road that has several primitive campsites. We didn't see anyone camping in these sites so we had the canyon to ourselves.

Horse Peak to Black Sister, McFarland Peak and Macks Peak

Mike on Horse Peak

The road petered out after about a mile but a trail continued up the wash at that point. When we reached the box canyon fork of 3 washes, we discussed the routes. To the right, there is a wash that is more gentle in slope but it is longer to the peak in front of us (Horse Peak). The left wash is shorter and steeper. Another wash presents a difficult scree slope as seen on Google Earth. Not seeing much difference in the left wash and the ridge climb in front of us, we chose to just go straight up. Up, up, and up, we struggled for around a third of a mile. Regardless of the effort, we enjoyed ourselves and the gorgeous views that started appearing about half way up. We decided to name the peak "Horse Peak" simply because it rose at the end of Horse Canyon! We had seen evidence of wild horses and elk along the way ... and probably a deer or two. Finally, at the top, we could appreciate Horse Peak in its entirety. We had only hiked 2.1 miles but we had a 360 degree view of Mummy's Nose, Forehead, and Chin, and Black Sister, McFarland Peak, and Macks Peak.

Starting down into The Elks Club Wash

We also had a clear disheartening view of the route we faced to continue up to Black Sister! First, we would have to lose about 150 elevation feet then begin again with the climbing ... topping it off with that really mean last climb to Black Sister.

Just my Size

Losing all that hard-earned gain was just too much for any of us to swallow right then so, after a unanimous vote, we decided to begin a loop down from there to try and find Nutans Road and the nearby mine. (It was a hot day anyhow!)

Starting up Nutans Road to the Mine

Tailings and Sled/Trolley Run

We circled around a small peak in front of us on a game trail then dropped down to the saddle junction above the Sisters Spur Road. (Familiar territory.) Then, we turned to the left and began a fairly steep drop in a wash that connected to another wash we affectionately called The Elks Club Wash! Lots of elk evidence here. This wash was easy to negotiate. (You just never know about washes until you try them.) I guess the animals use it often. Another half mile and we noticed a small trail up the left side of the wash that led us to junction with Nutans Road where it switchbacked up the hill. We only hiked up the small mine trail about 100' to find a few mine artifacts. At that point, we decided to come back some other day and explore the mine area more thoroughly. The mine trail is supposed to continue around the next ridge. Next, we descended Nutans Road to Lee Canyon Road and finally, hiked back to the cars for a mile along the pavement. ... (not our original plan!) Nevertheless, it was a successful exploration with a lot of possibilities for a future hike or two. It's amazing what you can find in these mountains!

Stats: 4.4 miles; 1300' gain; 3.25 hours

Old Mine Floom or Flue?

Descending Nutans Road

One Mile on Lee Canyon Road